Waterfowl Decoy

ABSTRACT

A waterfowl decoy has an elongate body portion with a forward end and a rearward end, and a head portion adjacent the forward end of the body portion, the head portion and the body portion defining an outer surface that simulates a waterfowl. A spoon extends downwardly and forwardly from the forward end of the body portion, the spoon having a leading edge positioned forwardly of the body. A jerk line is attached to the spoon rearwardly of its leading edge, so that when the decoy is deployed in water, pulling the jerk line causes the forward end of the decoy to dive, creating a splash and simulating realistic motion of waterfowl.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to waterfowl decoys.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Floating waterfowl decoys are deployed on bodies of water individuallyand in groups to attract waterfowl. These decoys are typically made ofwood or plastic, and various systems can be employed to make thesedecoys appear more lifelike. Sometimes the decoys are motorized to causethem to move on the water. Sometimes the decoys are connected togetherto enhance their movement on the water. Sometimes the decoys areactuated remotely by jerk strings. However, efforts continue to improvethe realism and effectiveness of decoys.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

Various embodiments of this disclosure provide a waterfowl decoy withrealistic action. According to one preferred embodiment a decoy isprovided comprising an elongate body portion having a forward end and arearward end, left and right sides, and a top and a bottom. A headportion adjacent the forward end of the body portion, the head portionand the body portion defining an outer surface that simulates awaterfowl, the body portion being at least partially buoyant in water; aspoon extending downwardly and forwardly from the forward end of thebody portion, the spoon having a leading edge positioned forwardly ofthe body, neck and head; and a jerk line attached to the spoonrearwardly of its leading edge, so that when the decoy is deployed inwater, pulling the jerk line causes the forward end of the decoy todive, creating a splash.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waterfowl decoy according to a firstpreferred embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a waterfowl decoy according to a secondpreferred embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a waterfowl decoy according to a thirdpreferred embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a possible deployment of any of embodimentsof this disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing operation of any of the embodiments of thisdisclosure.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

A first preferred embodiment of a waterfowl decoy according to theprinciples of this disclosure is indicted generally as 20 in FIG. 1 .The decoy 20 comprises an elongate body portion 22 having a forward end24 and a rearward end 26, left and right sides 28 and 30, and a top 32and a bottom 34. A head portion 36 adjacent the forward end 24 of thebody portion 22. The head portion 36 and the body portion 22 defining anouter surface that simulates a waterfowl, such as a duck or a goose. Insome embodiments, the forward end 24 of the decoy can have a concaveconfiguration to facilitate and/or enhance the creation of splashes, asdescribed below

The decoy 20, and in particular the body portion 22, is at leastpartially buoyant in water. The decoy 20 can be made of wood or plastic.In particular, the decoy can be made of molded plastic.

The decoy 20 has a protrusion or paddle, such as spoon 38, extendingdownwardly and forwardly from the forward end 24 of the body portion 22.The spoon 38 slopes downwardly and forwardly from the decoy 20 at anangle of between about 10° and about 75° from horizontal, and morepreferably between about 20° and about 45°. The spoon 38 is preferablyflat, but it could have some other suitable configuration. For example,curving in the axial direction and/or the transverse direction. Thespoon 38 preferably has a curved leading edge 40 positioned forwardly ofthe body portion 22 and head portion 36, but the leading edge 40 couldbe straight.

A jerk line 42 is attached to the spoon rearwardly of its leading edge,so that when the decoy 20 is deployed in water (as shown in FIGS. 4 and5 , pulling the jerk line 42 causes the forward end 24 of the decoy bodyportion 22 and head portion 36 to abruptly dive, mimicking naturalwaterfowl behavior and creating a visible splash. In embodiments wherethe forward end 24 of the decoy has a concave configuration, thisconcave shape can contribute to the formation of the “splash” and theforward end submerges. Both of these actions are attractive towaterfowl. Further, the splash creates a bobbing motion of anysurrounding decoys, enhancing the attractiveness of an entire decoyarray. The jerk line 42 is preferably attached to the spoon forwardly ofthe forward end 24 of the body portion 22 and head portion 36.

The decoy 20 preferably further comprises an anchor 50, and an anchorline 52 connecting the anchor to the decoy at a point adjacent therearward end 26 of the body portion 22. The anchor 50 and anchor line 52help the decoy remain where it is placed in the water, and the furtherenhance the response of the decoy 20 to the jerk line 42. The anchorline 52 can be elastic so that it causes the decoy to “spring” back whenjerked.

A second preferred embodiment of a waterfowl decoy according to theprinciples of this disclosure is indicted generally as 20′ FIG. 2 .Decoy 20′ is similar in construction and operation to decoy 20, exceptthat decoy 20′ has a weighted keel element 54. The weighted keel elementhelps to stabilize the decoy 20′ and helps keep the decoy properlyoriented.

The decoys 20 and 20′ each comprise a plate 56, with a downwardlyextending forward end 58. The plate 56 is mounted on the bottom 34 ofthe body portion 22 with the forward end 58 forming the spoon 38. Thedecoys can be manufactured this way, or the plate 56 can be providedseparately and added to a conventional decoy to adapt it to theprincipals of this invention.

A third preferred embodiment of a waterfowl decoy according to theprinciples of this disclosure is indicted generally as 20″ FIG. 2 .Decoy 20″ is similar in construction and operating to decoy 20, exceptthat in decoy 20″ the spoon 38 is formed integrally with the forward end24 of the body portion 22, and the forward end 24 has a concaveconfiguration to facilitate the creation of a splash when the line 42 isjerked to cause the decoy 20″ to dive.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

OPERATION

In operation the decoy 20, 20′, and 20″ of any of the embodiments ofthis invention, is deployed in a body of water, as shown in FIG. 4 . Theanchor 50 attached to the decoy by anchor line 52, holds the decoygenerally in place. An optional line 60 can connect to the anchor 50,and held by the user on shore to facilitate retrieval of the decoy andanchor. The jerk line 42 also extends to the user on shore.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the user can pull the jerk line 42 to cause thespoon 38 to splash up water, and cause the forward end 24 of the bodyportion and head portion 36 to dive, simulating realistic motion ofwaterfowl. The splash and/or simulated motion enhance the attraction ofthe decoy.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waterfowl decoy, comprising an elongate bodyportion having a forward end and a rearward end, left and right sides,and a top and a bottom; and a head portion adjacent the forward end ofthe body portion, the head portion and the body portion defining anouter surface that simulates a waterfowl, the body portion being atleast partially buoyant in water; a spoon extending downwardly andforwardly from the forward end of the body portion, the spoon having aleading edge positioned forwardly of the body portion and head portion;and a jerk line attached to the spoon rearwardly of its leading edge, sothat when the decoy is deployed in water, pulling the jerk line causesthe forward end of the decoy to dive, creating a splash.
 2. Thewaterfowl decoy according to claim 1, wherein the waterfowl that thehead and body portion resembles is a duck.
 3. The waterfowl decoyaccording to claim 1, further comprising an anchor, and an anchor lineconnecting the anchor to the decoy at a point adjacent the rearward endof the body portion.
 4. The waterfowl decoy according to claim 1,wherein the leading edge of the spoon is round.
 5. The waterfowl decoyaccording to claim 1, wherein the spoon slopes downwardly and forwardlyfrom the decoy at an angle of between about 10° and about 80° fromhorizontal.
 6. The waterfowl decoy according to claim 5, wherein thespoon slopes downwardly and forwardly from the decoy at an angle ofbetween about 20° and about 45° from horizontal.
 7. The waterfowl decoyaccording to claim 1, wherein the jerk line is attached to the spoon ata point forward of the body portion and head portion.
 8. The waterfowldecoy according to claim 1, wherein the spoon is formed integral withthe body portion.
 9. The waterfowl decoy according claim 1, furthercomprising a plate secured to the bottom of the body portion, andwherein the spoon projects from the forward end of the plate.
 10. Awaterfowl decoy, comprising an elongate body portion having a forwardend and a rearward end, left and right sides, and a top and a bottom;and a head portion adjacent the forward end of the body portion, thehead portion and the body portion defining an outer surface thatsimulates a waterfowl, the body portion being at least partially buoyantin water; a spoon extending downwardly and forwardly from the forwardend of the body portion at an angle of between about 20° and about 45°from horizontal, the spoon having a leading edge positioned forwardly ofthe body portion and head portion; and a jerk line attached to the spoonrearwardly of its leading edge, so that when the decoy is deployed inwater, pulling the jerk line causes the forward end of the decoy todive, creating a splash.
 11. The waterfowl decoy according to claim 10,wherein the waterfowl that the head and body portion resembles is aduck.
 12. The waterfowl decoy according to claim 10, further comprisingan anchor, and an anchor line connecting the anchor to the decoy at apoint adjacent the rearward end of the body portion.
 13. The waterfowldecoy according to claim 10, wherein the leading edge of the spoon isround.
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. The waterfowl decoy accordingto claim 10, wherein the jerk line is attached to the spoon at a pointforward of the body portion and head portion.
 17. The waterfowl decoyaccording to claim 10, wherein the spoon is formed integral with thebody portion.
 18. The waterfowl decoy according claim 10, furthercomprising a plate secured to the bottom of the body portion, andwherein the spoon projects from the forward end of the plate.
 19. Amethod of improving the functionality of a waterfowl decoy of the typecomprising an elongate body portion having a forward end and a rearwardend, left and right sides, and a top and a bottom; and a head portionadjacent the forward end of the body portion, the head portion and thebody portion defining an outer surface that simulates a waterfowl, thebody portion being at least partially buoyant in water, the methodcomprising securing a plate with an angled forward portion to the bottomof the body portion of the decoy, with the angled forward portion of theplate extending forward and downwardly from the body portion; andattaching a jerk string to the angled forward portion so that when thedecoy is deployed in water, pulling the jerk line causes the forward endof the decoy to dive, creating a splash.
 20. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the jerk string is attached to the angled forwardportion rearward of its forward edge.
 21. The method according to claim19, wherein the spoon slopes downwardly and forwardly from the decoy atan angle of between about 10° and about 80° from horizontal.
 22. Themethod according to claim 21, wherein the spoon slopes downwardly andforwardly from the decoy at an angle of between about 20° and about 45°from horizontal.